Briquet-press.



PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

B. G. HUTGHINSON.

BRIQUET PRESS.

APPLIUATION FILED 0011a, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' WITNESSES:

' INVENTOR. wfl/a-z q gym/z A T T ORNE K51 PATENT-ED APR. 23; 1907.

- E. c. HUTGHINSON.

BRIQUET PRESS. APP-LIUAIION PILED OUT. 18,, 1905.

a SHEETS-SHEET} 1N VENT OR.

fi YTNESSES: I V 1 fi Lw ATTORNEYS.

ona: PETERS can, WASHINGTON, u c

" PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

- E. 0. HUTOHINSON.

BRIQUET PRESS. APPLICATION FILED OOT.18. 190a.

3'SKBETSSHBET 3.

501% e; @W BY ATTORNEYS UNITED sTATns PATENT FFICE.

ELY C. HUTCHINSON, 'OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES R. ALLEN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BRIQUET-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed October 18,1905- Serial No. 283.292.

To all whom it puny concern.-

Be it known that I, ELY C. I-IUToHINsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Briquet- Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to molding-machines, and more particularly to that class of such devices as are used for forming blocks or briquets from a composition containing a pulverized fuel, as fine coal or peat, and an adhesive substance or hinder, preferably an oil product, as asphaltum.

l he object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character in which the material can be easily fed to it and as easily discharged and between which points the material is subjected to an increasing pressure as it passes in a continuous stream into a constantly-decreasing channel or passage-way. Three sides of this channel or conduit have a continuous forward movement, and two of them are provided with'opposing projections which engage with the material and assist in forcing it forward, compressing it within the recesses, forward between said recesses, and finally severing the stream of material into separate individual blocks or briquets and discharging them from the machine.

In machines of this character very great strength and compactness are necessary and also means for taking up the wear of the different parts, and thereby preventing the leakage of material where it is being subjected to the pressure necessary to produce a finished product that will have the requisite hardness or rigidity to withstand the treatment that it will receive in transportation and also to prevent its crumbling or disintegration in the furnace.

All of these and other objects are secured by my invention, an embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a partly-broken plan view. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, showing feed-plate and inner molding in elevation. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the hopper on the line l 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the compensating guide-roller, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is an end view of the same, partly broken, on the line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the dis charge-chute with mold-bottom plate. Fig. 8 is a cross-section of the same on the line 8 8, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the mold-bottom plate. Fig. 10 is a cross-section of the same on the line 10 10, Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the top pressure-plate. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a briquet.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the base of the press, preferably substantially circular, which is provided with a flanged cavity 2 near its center and an annular seat or bearing 3, arranged eccentrically around the cavity. Seated within the cavity is a cylindrical or cupshaped receptacle 4, the upper end of which Y is flanged; as at 5, to form a bearing, and the sides are slotted longitudinally, as at 6. A set-screw 7 projects through the base and engages with the lower end of the cup 4 for supporting it and moving it vertically. Seated in the cup 4 is a spindle 8, which is held against rotation and vertical movement by a pin 9, which projects throughthe slots 6 and the wall of the cavity 2.

The upper end of the spindle is seated in a cap or bearing 10, which is held against upward movement by a bolt 10, which passes through the cap and is screwed into the end of the spindle. The cap is held in alinement with or vertically above the socket 2 by bars 11 and rods 11, which extend radially outward to supports or brackets 12 and 12, 6X- tending up from the base 1. The rods are rigidly but adjustably secured to the brackets 12, while the bars are yieldingly and adjust ably held in the brackets 12, as by means of springs 13 and nuts 14, which have a tendency to draw the cap and top of the spindle over toward the compressing side of the machine.

Rotatably mounted on the spindle directly below the cap 10 is the inner mold 15, which is preferably in the form of a wheel, with its periphery provided with transverselyarranged recesses or pockets 16, which extend from face to face of the mold and are prefer- I having its lower end extended and flanged at 18 and surrounding the bearing. A wearing-plate 19, preferably of bronze, is adjustably seated within the flange 18 and caused to rotate therewith on top of the bearing by means of set-screws 20.

Encircling the inner mold and in the same plane therewith is the outer mold 21, which is preferably in the form of a flat ring of greater diameter than the inner mold, with its inner face provided with recesses or pockets 22, which are exact duplicates of the recesses 16 and, like them, extend from face toface of the ring. The outer face or periphery of the ring engages with rollers 23, which are journaled in the brackets 12 and 12, and the ring is thereby held in position and so adjusted relative to the inner ring that at one point the edges of the ribs or projections 24 between the recesses substantially contact with each other. On the side of said point from the feed-hopper they converge, and on the discharging side they diverge, while diametrically opposite the point of contact they are at their i'arthest distance apart. By constructing and arranging the recesses of the two mold members in this manner the briquets are discharged by the separation of the members, thus avoiding the need of special ejectors of any kind. u

The upper face of the ring 21 is provided with teeth 25, by means of which it is rotated, and the lower face is provided with an annu lar rib or flange 26, which bears against or is supported by antifriction-rollers 27. The bearings for these rollers are seated in guides or ways 28 on plates 29 and are adjusted by set-screws 30. The lower end of each of the brackets 12 is pivotally secured in a block 31, which is radially adjustable on the base by means of a set-screw 32, whereby a perfectly flat or parallel contact can be maintained between the roller 23 and the ring 21. Shims or thin adj usting-plates 31 are preferably placed between the block and base to afford a rigid support for the block and which may be removed as the block is moved up to preserve the proper adjustment or" the rollers.

J ournaled in a standards 33 and in a socket 34 on the cap 10 is a shaft 35, which receives power through the pulley 36 and transmits it through the bevel-pihions 37 and 38, the former engaging with the teeth 25 of the ring 21 and the latter with teeth 39 on a flange 40, projecting upward from the wheel 15. The feed-ring 1.7 is driven by means of internal teeth 41 on a depending flange of the ring 21, which engage with teeth 42 on a depending flange at the periphery of the feed-ring. The eccentric location of the plate is such that its outer edge projects under the two molds at their point of contact, and thereby forms a bottom for the mold and also permits of the engagement of its teeth with the teeth 41 adjacent to that point. The speed of the two molds and of the plate are so adjusted to each other that they all move in substantial unison at the point of mutual contact-that is, when two of the ribs of one mold are in their closest engagement with the corresponding ribs of the other moldto form a complete cavity or pocket in which the ma terial is given its final compression and which is preferably located substantially midway between the two bars 11.

The upper wall of the mold is formed by a segmental plate 43, which extends from the hopper 44 to and a slight distance beyond the point of greatest compression. This plate is provided with a vertical rib 45, by means of which it is supported from the bars 1 1 by blocks 46, each block having a perforation at 47, through which the bar extends. The perforation is larger than the bar, so that the block may be given a vertical movement thereon by means of the nut 48 on a bolt 49 and a spring 50. The bolt is rigid, as by being screwed into a perforation in the bar at that point, and extends loosely through the block 46, and the spring engages with the top of the block and a washer under the nut 48. In this manner the plate is yieldingly and adjustably held in position against the top of the molds, and it is made of suflicient width and length to cover the space between the molds from the hopper nearly to the point of discharge.

The center oi the feed-ring is located eccentrically to the centers of both of the molds toward the hopper 44, so that its outer edge extends way under the hopper and entirely clears the discharge-chute 51, which is located almost diametrically opposite the hoper. To complete the floor of the hopper, and thereby assist in supporting the material until it passes entirely in between the ring and the top plate and the recessed walls of the two mold members, a half or semi. crescent-shaped plate 52 is supported in the same plane with the teed-ring by legs or standards which are bolted to the base of the machine. The base or widest end 01' the plate 52 extends to the rear of the hopper, while the point passes under the inner bottom edge of the outer mold-ring beyond the front of the hopper. Extending from a point under the edge of the outer mold on the other side of the feed-ring is a similarly-shaped plate or table 53, which is supported in the same manner and supports the material after it is released from the compression of the molds until it is discharged through the chute 51. In the drawings the table and chute are shown as formed integral, with the bottom of the chute extending down through the base 01' the machine and secured thereto, but they can be formed separately, if desired. At the far side of the chute the wall is formed or provided with a projection in the form of a plate 54, which extends up into the path of the briquets as they are carried forward by thediverging walls of the mold, and in case any of them should. fail to fall from said recesses it will engage therewith and cause them to fall. The inner curve of each of the plates 52 and 53 corresponds with the periphery of the feed-ring, so as to form therewith a substantially continuous surface over which the material passes.

The feed-hopper is supported in an annular bracket 56, which is secured to the side of the cap 10 at one end, which projects upwardly, and to the side of the base at the other end, which extends downwardly. The intermediate portion of the bracket between. the bends is expanded to form a frame 57, within which the hopper is secured. The lower endof the hopper is cut off straight and bears upon the upper faces of the two mold members, so as to prevent the escape of material except bet ween the molds. The size of the hopper is preferably made adjustable, as by a gate 58, which is pivotaily suspended on a rod 59 at one side of the top of the hopper, with its lower end extending down into the throat and movable toward and from the opposite side. The gate is held in. its adjusted position by a rod 60, which is removably located in any desired one of a series of perforations 61 in the sides of the hopper.

In operating a press as above described power is applied, and the material, which may be of any desired character, is fed into the hopper in any desired manner. As soon as the material falls upon the feed-ring or into engagement with the mold members it is carried forward into the laterally-converging space between the walls of the mold. By having the space between the recessed walls well filled when the material leaves the bot tom of the hopper the compression gradually increases, caused by the approach of the two walls toward each other and the rearward movement of the material that is thus crowded back by such compression, and by having the bottom move substantially in unison with. the two sides the entire body or mass of. material is fed forward with a positive movement, thereby insuring a product of a uniform density at all times and preventing the clogging or choking of the machine. At the instant of greatest compression the opposing projections of the two molds substantially contact, and thereby sever the completed briquet from the continuous stream of material ready to be discharged from the machine. As soon as the compression is given the recessed walls of the molds begin to diverge or separate, but the briquets are still carried forward by the projections between the recesses until they reach the discl'iarge-chute, where they fall down upon the inclined bottom and are thrown out at one side of the machine.

By means of the different adjustments the wear of the parts of the machine can be compensated and a perfect product canbe'secured at all times. The machine is very simple and yet so compact and strong that it will stand the enormous strain to which it must be subjected to produce a brique't having the desired density. The radial rods and bars on top afford a sufficient support for the parts and yet permit of ready access to the mech anism in case of repairs or adjustment of any of the internal mechanism. The open hopper permits of the material being fed substantially direct to the molds, and the travel through the machine is so short and positive and the discharge so free that the machine can be run at a comparatively high rate of speed, thereby securing a large output with a minimum expenditure of power and cost.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1'. In a briquet-press, two opposing recessed members, means for moving said members into contact with the opposing recesses registering with each other, a plate above said members at the point of contact and a movable member below them.

2. In a briquet-press, two opposing, rotary, recessed members, means for causing said members to contact at one point with the opposing recesses registering with each other, a stationary plate above said member at the point of contact, and a plate, movable member below the same.

3. In a briquet-press, two opposing, rotary peripherally-recessed members, one within the other in the same plane, means for causing said members to contact at one point with the opposing recesses registering with each other, a stationary plate above the same, a disk below said members, and means for moving the disk and the members substantially in unison at said point of contact.

4. Ina briquet-press, two rotary, recessed members, one within the other in the same plane and adapted to contact at one point, a plate above said members, a feed-hopper at one point and a dischargechute at another, a

rotary disk below said members with its center at one side of the centers of said members whereby its periphery extends from the discharge-chute to and partly under the feedhopper, andv means for closing the remainder of the hopper.

5. In a briquetpress, two rotary, recessed members, movable one within the other in the same plane and adapted to contact at one point, a plate abovesaid members, afeedhopper at one point and a discharge-chute at another, a rotary disk under the members, with its periphery extending from the discharge-chute to and partly under the feedhopper, two semicrescentshaped plates extending from the feed-hopper and the discharge-chute at another, a flat feed-ring un-- der said members and extending from the hopper to the point of contact, and two plates in the same plane with said ring for forming a continuation of the'ring under the hopper and to the discharge-chute.

7. In a briquet-press, two rotary mold members, upper and lower walls for completing the molds at the point of compression feeding mechanism and a discharge-chute, a table from said point to the chute, and a stop on the far wall of the chute.

8. In a briquet-press, a recessed base, two rotary mold members, upper and lower walls for completing the molds at the point of greatest compression, feeding mechanism, a table and an inclined-bottomed discharge chute at the recessed portion of the base, and a stop projecting upwardly from the far side of the chute.

9. In a briquet-press, two rotary mold members,upper and lower walls for completing the molds, and a feed-hopper provided with an adjustable throat and having its lower end even with the tops of said members.

10. In a briquet-press, two rotary mold members, upper and lower walls for completing the molds, a feed-hopper having its walls on one side perforated and its lower end even with the tops of said members, a plate pivotally secured at the top of the hopper with the lower end in the throat, and a rod removably secured in said perforations for holding the lower endof said plate in its adjusted position.

11. In a briquet-press, two rotary mold members, one within the other, the outer one being provided with a flange on its under side, rollers for engaging with. said flange, means for adjusting the bearings for said rollers, and means for rotating said members.

12. In a briquetpress, two rotary mold members, one within the other, a support for each of said members, means for adjusting each of said supports, a rotary feed-ring for engaging with said members, means for adjusting said ring, and an upper plate for the members.

13. In a briquet-press, two rotary mold members, one within the other, an adjustable support for each of said members, a

flanged rotary feed-ring for engaging with said members, an adjustable wearing-plate in said flange, and an upper plate for the members.

14. In a bri net-press, a base provided with a cavity an a flange, rollers on the base, an adjustable support projecting upwardly from the cavity, an outer mold-ring on said rollers, a mold-ring on said support, a flanged feed-ring on said flange, an adjustable bearing-ring, in the flange of said ring, and an upper plate for said members.

15. In a briquet-press, a base provided with a perforated walled cavity and a flange surrounding the same, eccentrieally, a slotted cup in the cavity, aspindle seated in said cup, a pin through the spindle, and through the slots and the perforations in the wall of the cavity, a screw through the base and in engagement with the cup, adjustable rollers on the base, an outer mold-ring on said rollers, a mold-wheel on the spindle with its hub on the cup, a cap on top of the spindle, a feedring adjustably mounted on the flange and in engagement with said mold members, and an upper plate on said members.

16. In a briquet-press, two recessed mold members, one within the'other and adapted to contact at the point of greatest compression, and each provided with gear-teeth on its upper surface and one of them with internal gear, a shaft above said members provided with pinions for engaging with said gear-teeth, a feed-ring below said members provided with peripheral teeth in engagement with said internal gear, and a plate above said point of contact.

17. In a briquetpress, a base, a spindle and brackets mounted thereon, a cap on the spindle, a bolt through the cap and engaging with the spindle, braces from the cap to the brackets, rollers in the brackets, an outer mold member in engagement with said roll ers, a mold-wheel on the spindle having its periphery adapted to contact with the outer member at one point, a plate above and a plate below the mold members at the point of contact. I

18. In a briquet-press, a base, a spindle and brackets mounted thereon two of the brackets being adjustable, a cap secured to the upper end of the spindle, adjustable braces from the cap to the brackets, two of which are in yielding engagement with the adjustable brackets, rollers in said brackets, an outer mold member in engagement with said rollers, a mold-wheel on the spindle with its periphery in contact with said outer member at a point between the adjustable brackets, a plate above and a plate below the mold members at the point of contact.

19. In a briquet-press, a base, a spindle and brackets mounted therein, movable blocks for two of the brackets, screws for adjustably holding said blocks, a cap secured to the upper end of the spindle, braces from the cap to the brackets, those for the adjustable brackets having their ends passed therethrough and provided with nuts, springs between said nuts and their outer mold member engaging with said rollers, a mold-wheel on the spindle and engaging with the outer member between the ad ustable brackets, a plate above and a plate below the mold members at the point of contact.

20. In a briquet-press, a base, a spindle and brackets thereon, a cap on the spindle, braces from the cap to the bracket-rollers in the brackets, an outer mold member in engagement with said rollers, an inner mold member on the spindle and engaging with the outer member at one point, a plate on each side of said members at the point of contact, and means for yieldingly holding the upper plate in position.

21. In a briquet-press, a base, a spindle and brackets thereon, a cap on the spindle, braces from the cap to the brackets, rollers in the brackets, an outer mold member in engagement with said rollers, an inner mold member on the spindle and engaging with the outer member at one point, a plate'above and a plate below said members at the point of contact, a vertical movable block on each brace at each side of said point and connected with the upper plate, a bolt through each block into said brace with a nut on its upper end, and a spring between said nut and the top of the block.

22. In a briquet-press, a base, a spindle projecting upwardly therefrom, a cap on top of the spindle, recessed mold members, one within the other, an angular bracket secured at its ends to the cap and to the base, the intermediate portion of which is provided with an open frame, and a hopper in said frame with its lower end substantially in engagement with said members.

23. In a briquet-press, two circular, recessed mold members'of different diameters, one within the other in the same plane, adjustable means for yieldinglyholding said members in contact at one point and a plate above and a plate below said members at the point of contact.

24. In a briquet-press, a base, an inner mold member journaled thereon, an outer mold-ring around said member and in contact therewith at one point, means for adjusting the ring in its own plane relative to the inner member.

25. In a briquet-press, a base, two mold members rotatably mounted thereon, one within the other and in the same plane and in contact at one point, and means for adjusting said members relative to each other in said plane.

26. In a briquet-press, a base, two circular shaft in the bearings and in the socket, a pulley and gear-pinions on the shaft, and rotary mold members in the same plane and in engagement with each other at one point and each provided with gear-teeth for engaging with said pinions.

28. In a briquet-press, horizontally-arranged mold members, one within the other, and centrally-located means for adjusting the inner member vertically for compensating for wear.

29. In a briquet-press, horizontally-arranged mold members, one within the other, rollers for engaging with the periphery of the outer member, and means for adjusting said rollers so as to maintain their peripheries parallel with the periphery of said outer member.

30. In a briquet-press, horizontally-arranged mold members one within the other, and means for guiding supporting and adjusting the outer member, independently of the inner member.

31. In a briquet-press, horizontally-an ranged mold members, one Within the other and in engagement at one point, and an adjilistable and compensating top pressureate.

p 32. In a briquet-press, horizontally-arranged mold members, one within the other, an eccentrically-located feed-ring below the same positive self-contained gear-drive for the same, and screws for adjusting the ring relative to said members.

33. Ina briquet-press, a base, a spindle proj ecting therefrom, a cap on top of the spindle radially-arranged braces for supporting the same, and mold members rotatably mounted on the base.

3 1. In a briquet-press, movable mold mem bers, a hopper for feeding material thereto, and means for regulating the mouth of the hopper, said means consisting of a gate having one end pivoted to the hopper and means for holding its other end in any desired position.

In testimony whereof I have afliXed my,

signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 10th day of October, 1905.

ELY C. HUTOHINSON.

Witnesses:

M. R. SEELY, W. S. Born. 

